Weekly Round-Up: Friday 18th January

Well here it is, the third Friday of January and no Big Day Out for the first time in over a decade. Luckily we've been treated to some great side-shows this week (Alabama Shakes, Band of Horses and Crystal Castles) to help fill the gap and Laneway is right around the corner anyway AND they've just week they announced a addition of an exciting new stage - the Redbull Thunderdome - where a selection of DJs will go head to head in the base of one of the old grain silos (see here for full details).

In tour news: Rodriguez, the subject of the awesome documentary Searching For Sugar Man, was announced to play two shows in March,  Frank Turner is heading back less than a year after his last tour for two shows, local multi-instrumentalist Andrew Keoghan is celebrating his return from touring overseas with three shows next month and we captured a bunch of the live action this week with live photos of Weezer (+ live review), Action Bronson, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Alabama Shakes, Band of Horses and a live review of Crystal Castles.

In album release news: Black Sabbath announced details of their new album 13 , due out in June, their first with near original lineup since 1978’s Never Say Die; legendary British band Wire announced a new album and released the first single;  Yeah Yeah Yeah's released more details about their new album Mosquito, including creepy artwork and release date (April 12th); rumours of a new album from The Strokes have resurfaced with a US radio station claiming to have received the first single 'All The Time' and there are album streams galore out there from the likes of:  Parquet Courts, Foxygen, Widowspeak, Christopher Owens (Girls), Esben and The Witch, Toro Y Moi and definitely check out this awesome compilation from US label Exploding In Sound featuring over very own Die! Die! Die!.

Caught live this week we have fan footage of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs performing two tracks from their aforementioned new album Mosquito....

WEEKEND GIG PICKS

Friday 18th January

AUCKLAND: The Sneaks, Sherpa, HDSPNS and Cassette Nine
AUCKLAND: The Psychs, Space Creeps and more, Kings Arms Tavern
AUCKLAND: Fuser, Identity Slip and Royal Falcoln, Rising Sun
WELLINGTON: Marble Sheep, Mighty Mighty
NELSON: Alizarin Lizard and Brown, Playhouse Theatre

Saturday 19th January

LEIGH: Louis Baker, Leigh Sawmill Cafe
AUCKLAND: Sticky Filth, Whammy Bar
AUCKLAND: Dear Time's Waste, Luckless and The Map Room, Wine Cellar
TAURANGA: Marble Sheep, Major Toms (Mt Maunganui)
WELLINGTON: Ghost Wave and Terror of The Deep, Mighty Mighty

Upcoming international shows this month...

Dirty Projectors: Auckland (Wed 23rd), Wellington (Thurs 24th)
Alestorm: Auckland (Thurs 24th)
Hunx and His Punx: Auckland (Thurs 24th)
A Place To Bury Strangers: Wellington (Sun 27th)
Laneway Festival: Auckland (Mon 28th)

NEW TRACKS THIS WEEK